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For Queen and Country #2
Willow Witch
ASIN B00K60M25U moved to this edition.
Continued from book 1 ...
After fleeing from the burning ruins of Saardam, Johanna, Prince Roald, Loesie and Nellie have been captured by a group of bandits and are being taken to a place unknown through a forest rife with magic. Loesie, struck mute by an unknown but powerful sorcerer, is behaving increasingly strange. The friends try to escape, but is Loesie helping them or is she a danger to them?
Every step they take through the ghost-ridden forest brings them closer to the duke who is rumoured to be the source of the evil magic, the necromancer whose anger against Saarland's royal family has lain the world to waste.
Continued from book 1 ...
After fleeing from the burning ruins of Saardam, Johanna, Prince Roald, Loesie and Nellie have been captured by a group of bandits and are being taken to a place unknown through a forest rife with magic. Loesie, struck mute by an unknown but powerful sorcerer, is behaving increasingly strange. The friends try to escape, but is Loesie helping them or is she a danger to them?
Every step they take through the ghost-ridden forest brings them closer to the duke who is rumoured to be the source of the evil magic, the necromancer whose anger against Saarland's royal family has lain the world to waste.
- GenresFantasy
175 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2014
About the author
Patty Jansen
123 books278 followersAuthor of Science Fiction and fantasy and non-fiction.
Author of the Ambassador series, the Icefire Trilogy, For Queen And Country series and the Return of the Aghyrians series.
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Author of the Ambassador series, the Icefire Trilogy, For Queen And Country series and the Return of the Aghyrians series.
Join the official newsletter and receive four books free
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 26, 2021
Okay, that ending was very abrupt.
Warning: this review may contain spoilers for Innocence Lost, but not for this novel Willow Witch itself. Read at your own risk.
I am so glad I decided to get an Audible subscription for two months, even though I definitely wasn't thinking of this series at the time (I needed it for Life, the Universe and Everything which somehow my library didn't have in audio or even ebook, despite having the other four books readily available), but when I realized I had a few extra credits to blow before I canceled my membership (I had accidentally gone over the free trial time period), I figured it could be useful since I wanted to continue this series that seems to only be available on Amazon.
This picked up right where Innocence Lost leaves off. Unlike the first book, there was a lot less exposition, and a lot more of the main team growing into strong characters from the start. Johanna is easily the most patient protagonist I've read in a long time, what with having to deal with Roald, Nellie, and Loesie's increasing needs along with her own, while fighting kidnapper bandits. I especially like the way the relationship between Johanna and Roald is progressing. I never understood how various royals and nobles have to "learn to love" their significant other when forced into that situation. I get forced friendship, but not forced romance. Johanna and Roald's interactions in Willow Witch actually helped me to understand this trope a lot more than I expected.
I like that we got a lot more of the story's progression as well. My main complaint about the first book was that the exposition was too slow. Maybe it was because I read it as audio, but things really did seem to fit better to paint a full picture.
There are also so many more characters and questions that come up because of them. One of my weaknesses in fantasy is the "not knowing who to trust" one, especially when two options with opposing viewpoints are at play and the main characters are caught in the middle of these interactions without knowing what's true. Willow Witch is a prime example of this, and I can't wait to see where this goes and which party Johanna ends up listening to.
I downloaded the third book with my last Audible credit, and am excited to read that. I'll have to see after three books, though, whether I'll be willing to pay for the latter books in the series after I finish the third one remains to be seen.For now, though, I'm glad I picked this series back up.
Warning: this review may contain spoilers for Innocence Lost, but not for this novel Willow Witch itself. Read at your own risk.
I am so glad I decided to get an Audible subscription for two months, even though I definitely wasn't thinking of this series at the time (I needed it for Life, the Universe and Everything which somehow my library didn't have in audio or even ebook, despite having the other four books readily available), but when I realized I had a few extra credits to blow before I canceled my membership (I had accidentally gone over the free trial time period), I figured it could be useful since I wanted to continue this series that seems to only be available on Amazon.
This picked up right where Innocence Lost leaves off. Unlike the first book, there was a lot less exposition, and a lot more of the main team growing into strong characters from the start. Johanna is easily the most patient protagonist I've read in a long time, what with having to deal with Roald, Nellie, and Loesie's increasing needs along with her own, while fighting kidnapper bandits. I especially like the way the relationship between Johanna and Roald is progressing. I never understood how various royals and nobles have to "learn to love" their significant other when forced into that situation. I get forced friendship, but not forced romance. Johanna and Roald's interactions in Willow Witch actually helped me to understand this trope a lot more than I expected.
I like that we got a lot more of the story's progression as well. My main complaint about the first book was that the exposition was too slow. Maybe it was because I read it as audio, but things really did seem to fit better to paint a full picture.
There are also so many more characters and questions that come up because of them. One of my weaknesses in fantasy is the "not knowing who to trust" one, especially when two options with opposing viewpoints are at play and the main characters are caught in the middle of these interactions without knowing what's true. Willow Witch is a prime example of this, and I can't wait to see where this goes and which party Johanna ends up listening to.
I downloaded the third book with my last Audible credit, and am excited to read that. I'll have to see after three books, though, whether I'll be willing to pay for the latter books in the series after I finish the third one remains to be seen.For now, though, I'm glad I picked this series back up.
September 27, 2019
Different styles
Although this story is different from my usual cozy mysteries, after reading the first tale in the Fire and Magic anthology I went looking for the other books in the set.
This set the pace for the next drama in the girls lives as they take the prince along, looking for other citizens of their burned city. I liked that Patty Jansen took the time to set up the landscaping and town along with the personalities of the main characters in the story.
This second book sends our friends on a journey to find their family and friends. Along the way, they are kidnapped and their journey takes an unusual turn. I don't care for cliffhangers are there are several here but I am invested in the story now.
I would probably recommend this story to anyone who likes mildly ancient villages with kings and queens, power and magic. I will be reading the rest of the set.
Although this story is different from my usual cozy mysteries, after reading the first tale in the Fire and Magic anthology I went looking for the other books in the set.
This set the pace for the next drama in the girls lives as they take the prince along, looking for other citizens of their burned city. I liked that Patty Jansen took the time to set up the landscaping and town along with the personalities of the main characters in the story.
This second book sends our friends on a journey to find their family and friends. Along the way, they are kidnapped and their journey takes an unusual turn. I don't care for cliffhangers are there are several here but I am invested in the story now.
I would probably recommend this story to anyone who likes mildly ancient villages with kings and queens, power and magic. I will be reading the rest of the set.
May 8, 2020
Johanna, Roald, Nellie, and Loesie are prisoners. Johanna is determined to escape once the time is right. Their development is good. Roald and Johanna were married just prior to the capture and she is not sure what she thinks about it or him. He is a prince. She is the daughter of a merchant. Nellie and Loesie are her friends.
The plot flows well. There is action and drama. The bandits claim to have kidnapped them to help them. I'd recommend this book to those looking for a book about royalty and war with magic. I can't wait to read (listen) to the next book. I enjoyed the book.
The narrator does a great job. She has a nice voice and helps to bring the story to life.
The plot flows well. There is action and drama. The bandits claim to have kidnapped them to help them. I'd recommend this book to those looking for a book about royalty and war with magic. I can't wait to read (listen) to the next book. I enjoyed the book.
The narrator does a great job. She has a nice voice and helps to bring the story to life.
May 24, 2022
Still good
The story is still good even though it ends in a cliffhanger. I hope the series answers more questions that were raised during this story. I also hope things work out between Roald and Johanna.
The story is still good even though it ends in a cliffhanger. I hope the series answers more questions that were raised during this story. I also hope things work out between Roald and Johanna.
October 7, 2019
This story was much better and faster paced than the first. I mostly enjoyed it.
December 18, 2016
Willow Witch (For Queen and Country book 2) by Patty Jansen continues the story of our band of odd collection of people that are now prisoners that are taken to a Dukes Kingdom. Here the bewitched mute girl has the demon released from her. It is a land of magic and they are going further into a magical world where they may be going into darker magic. Plenty has happened in this book but it looks like even more is to come. Love this fantasy story of magic and the supernatural. Well written and complex characters make it very intriguing and suspenseful. I was given this book for a honest review and it in no way effects my rating or review content.
January 11, 2017
This is getting more and more interesting. I really like the portrayal of Roald and how Johanna is realizing he's not "just a halfwit," but someone who needs to be approached differently and has his own talents. It's really awesome to have this in a book. I think this is the first time I've seen it done this way, and so far I am impressed. It's really more like Roald is mid-to-high functioning autistic and completely misunderstood. Nellie drives me a little crazy. And should they trust the old duke and his son? Forward!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2015
I enjoyed this second novel in the series. The only disappointment was that I wanted Loesie's plotline to be a bit richer. She felt a bit passive in everything that was happening. (Granted, that could be because this novel is mostly from Johanna's POV, and she's got a lot going on.)
I am glad I read the precursor story "Whispering Willows". That made Loesie feel less of a minor character.
I am glad I read the precursor story "Whispering Willows". That made Loesie feel less of a minor character.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews